guide

Who are Macs Bike? Page 2 What is Self Guided Cycling? Page 3 Styles of Trip Page 4 Routes & Terrain, Navigation & Accommodation Page 5 Baggage Transfer, Food, Travel & Fitness Page 6 Cycling Grades Page 7 Popular Itineraries Page 8-9 How to Book Page 10 What to Pack Page 11 Photo Gallery Page 12

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self guidedCYCLING

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WHAT MAKES US EXPERTS ON self guided cycling?

Hello and welcome to our Guide to Self Guided Cycling Trips.

Since 2003, we have specialised in arranging self guided walking and cycling holidays and tailor made adventures in the UK, Europe and around the world. In 2015 we launched Macs Bike with a specialist team-within-a-team to focus on developing and organising outstanding adventures by bike.

Cycling has been a passion of the team for a long time and we started off with our mountain bike trip across Scotland, then steadily grew from there.

Since 2012, with the London Olympics and the first Briton to win the Tour de France, cycling has just grown and grown, and so has our portfolio of trips.

To ask anything about any of our cycling trips, contact our dedicated specialists at info@macsadventure.com, or click below to see all the different itineraries on our website.

Who are Macs Bike?

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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What is Self Guided Cycling?

Introduction

To see a country on two wheels is to truly experience it. You can travel further than on foot, take in more of the area, but still breathe the air, meet the people and start and stop as you like.

Independent travel is what has always driven us.

We believe in the concept of inde-pendent travel, but also know that time constraints mean someone has to give you a helping hand to make sure that your precious hol-iday time is used to its fullest and you don’t miss any opportunities.

We organise all of the technical bits of the holiday for you: we book your accommodation, luggage transfers, bike hire (should you need it) and provide you with all the tools you need to get from A to B.

How long you take to get from A to B, and when and where you stop along

the way, is entirely up to you. With the route notes, information packs and local information we provide, you’ll be well equipped to capture those precious moments.

For further inspiration you can check out our blog post - Self-Guided: Self Satisfaction And Self Reward

CYCLING EXPerience

We have tried to cater for everyone with our range of cycling trips as we realise that not everyone is a dedicated cyclist.

While we don’t ask that you are able to change your own dereilleur or true a wheel, there are a few basic things that will help you to learn while you are out on the trip.

The basic one is that you should know how to repair a puncture, or at the very least, how to change an inner tube.

With all of our trips you will be given a little repair kit when you pick up your bikes and included in this will be a

spare inner tube, so hopefully you won’t have to fix a puncture on the go, but only change the inner tube.

It may be daunting to some, but honestly, it is a really easy proceedure and bikes are very resilient, there is not much risk of you breaking anything while you do this. For a good guide to fixing a puncture, take a look at this video.

For anything more technical than this, you can always get in touch with our local partners, who will be more than happy to help out with any questions or repairs on your bike.

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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Styles of Trip

Styles of Trip

There are many different ways to experience a Self Guided cycling trip, depending on what you want to get out of it.

We have easy trips for those who haven’t been on a bike for years, or who want to take it a bit easier. We also have the polar opposite: those long, tougher trips for people who like to push themselves.

We also have trips based around food and wine and trips based around winter getaways.

What we really want to do is en-courage people back onto their bikes and to get out and experience a region or country in this unique way.

leisure cycling

The title makes it sound a lot more dull than it really is. Leisure cycling

just encompasses everything apart from the specialised stuff you will see below. From glorious, easy cycles along the Canal du Midi, to tough adventures from Coast to Coast in England, leisure cycling covers it all.

Generally you will cycle from ac-commodation to accommodation every night with your bags trans-ferred for you, allowing you to expe-rience a region in depth, but with the freedom to choose where and when to stop and what to visit.

Bike & Boat

Rather than the regular style of trips, where you stay somewhere different each night, we also offer Bike & Boat trips.

With these, you will stay on-board lovely river cruisers, and they will follow you along the river or canal while you cycle. At night they will move onwards while you sleep so

you get to experience the very best parts of a region.

road biking

These trips are for the more hard-core amongst us, those that like to get out on the bike and put in some serious mileage. While the actual trips and the scenery and culture are still massively important, there is more focus on the route.

Things like cycling stages of the Tour du France, or cycling the length of Croatia are what you can expect from a road biking trip.

mountain biking

Just as you would expect, this is experiencing a region away from the roads. Up quiet tracks and away from the crowds and the traffic.

Long distance MTB trips are not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards are well worth the effort involved.

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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About the Routes

Route & Terrain

This differs massively between trips. Where possible, we try to construct trips around traffic-free cycle paths, but often we will have to throw in a little quiet road cycling too.

There are perfectly flat trips around lakes and by rivers or there are mountainous, rough climbs on dirt tracks. It is really dependent on what you prefer.

We also have a range of road-cy-cling trips where you can discover some of the best parts of Europe on long blasts through their country-side.

Whatever your preference, we are always up-front and honest about what your trip entails and our specialists know the trips inside out. They will impart any information you need about your prospective trip.

Navigation

When you are cycling through an area that is new to you, the key thing to your comfort is the navigation.

Again our trips vary. For some, we have route books and maps, so that every turn is marked out for you. On other trips we have GPS units mounted on your handlebars so you can just cruise along with the occasional glance down to check you are going the right way.

However, with the majority of cycling trips, the navigation is fairly straight forward. Follow the river, or keep the loch to your right or follow the road signs and you will always be fine.

We also have local partners in every location you cycle in and we are here to help 24/7, so if you manage to get lost, you know there is always someone who has your back.

Accommodation

This is another of the key areas that we pride ourselves on, here at Macs Bike.

We have a simple test: would the accommodation be somewhere that we are happy to send our parents?

With this as the acid-test, we always find somewhere for you to stay where you will be happy and if not, we always listen to our customers. If there is the slightest problem with an accommodation, we look for an alternative.

On our trips you can look forward to staying in everything from luxury hotels to river cruisers. From the friendliest B&B’s to working farms; whatever we feel lends itself to experiencing the very best that the region has to offer.

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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About the Routes

Baggage transfer

A key perk of travelling with us is that you need never think about your baggage. While you could travel under your own steam, with pan-niers packed to the gunnels, you can simple leave it to us and we will transport your luggage.

Generally you just have to leave your baggage in the reception of your accommodation and then you will find it has magically appeared by the time you get to your evening’s accommodation.

Food

One of the highlights of any trip is the gastronomy of the area.

While many guided trips will have everything booked in advance, here at Macs Bike we don’t want you to be restricted like this. For instance, in the north of Spain, you will be on the pintxo trail (tiny tapas) so to

book you a restaurant would mean that you miss out on this wonderful experience.

All of our trips include breakfast and there are a few that include lunch or dinner where there are no other alternatives, but otherwise you are free to choose what you like.

Travel to/from the trip

Travel to the start/from the end of our trips is not included in the cost. We take this out since our clients come from all over the world and with the spread of low-cost airlines, it is often easier to book flights yourself. Our destination specialists can ad-vise you on the cheapest way to get to the start point of your trip. Occasionally, there are transfers included in the trip and these will usually be included to make sure that once you arrive, everything is taken care of.

Fitness & health

Most of our trips don’t require any specialist experience, however the higher your level of fitness, themore you will enjoy the experience.Most itineraries involve between 5 and 10 hours of daily cycling so you should be comfortable cycling for that duration (padded shorts also help for this!)

If you don’t feel that you have the right level of fitness, regular walking and cycling will help, supplemented by cardio vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your walk is recommended.

Consult your doctor if you have any conditions which may affect your ability to complete the trip and always ensure that if you take any prescribed medication that you take a plentiful supply with you when you travel.

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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Cycling Grades

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

Easy

Distance per Day: Less than 20 miles (32 km)Relaxed cycling, ideal for beginners and families looking for an adventure. Plenty of time to relax en-route with short cycling days and not many hills. Usually on well established, traffic-free cycle paths.

Easy to Moderate

Distance per Day: 21 - 34 miles (33 - 54 km)A more energetic holiday, perfect for occasional riders. Longer days so a better level of bike fitness required, but nothing overly difficult. Not too many hills and still plenty of time to relax and take it slowly.

Moderate

Distance per Day: 35 - 45 miles (56 - 72 km)You can expect longer distances and some challenging days on this holiday. Perfect for regular cyclists who lead a fit and active lifestyle. This is for the cyclist who is out at least once a week and wants to push themselves a little, while seeing some outstanding places.

Moderate to Strenuous

Distance per Day: 46 - 54 miles (74 - 86 km)A challenging cycle perfect for those looking to test their abilities. Daily distances are long and demanding and there may be big climbs. Ideal for those who are out cycling with a club and are used to longer daily distances peppered with challenging terrain.

Strenuous

Distance per Day: More than 55 miles (More than 88 km) or shorter days with steep ascent/descentLong days make for a challenging holiday. Great for keen cyclists who have previous long distance cycling experience over multiple days. As always, the pain is worth the gain and you will cycle through some truly mind-blowing landscapes on these trips.

grades

Grading different activities is always a tough job. It is so subjective and everyone has different limits, speeds and capabilities.

However, our grading guidelines should give you a better idea of what to expect on your trip and they apply to the overall intensity of the holiday, so some days may be a little tougher than stated and some a little bit easier, but it all balances out.

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Popular Itineraries

Great Glen CyclewayWebsite Code: BSSGGThe Great Glen is an amazing geographical fault line that splits Scotland in two, forming dramatic lochs and glens and one of the most famous bodies of water in the world: Loch Ness.

Biking along the banks of loch after loch, travelling from coast to coast immerses you in the iconic scenery of the Highland Fault Line. The Great Glen is a beautiful, challenging way to spend a couple of days.

Grade

Comfort

Start/Finish

Distance

Fort William/Inverness

79 miles

Duration 5 Days & 4 Nights

Availability April - October

Sea 2 Sea Cycle RouteWebsite Code: CESCTCJourney across England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea on the UK’s most popular long distance cycle route.

Pedal along quiet country lanes and cycle paths with the rugged mountains of the Lake District National Park and heather covered moors of the North Pennines Geopark as your backdrop to a real British adventure.

Grade

Comfort

Start/Finish

Distance

Newcastle/Newcastle

140 miles

Duration 4 - 5 Days

Availability April - September

Danube Bike & Boat: Passau to BudapestWebsite Code: CASBBPBTravel through four countries vis-iting three European capitals on one glorious cycling trip. The de-lightfully flat Danube Cycle Path offers easy-going riding and a treasure-trove of scenery, history and culture - all with your overnight stays aboard a traditional river boat cruiser. This eight day journey sees you cycling through truly spectacu-lar scenery of Bavaria, Austria, Slo-vakia and Hungary.

Grade

Comfort

Start/Finish

Distance

Passau/Budapest

189 - 213 km

Duration 8 Days & 7 Nights

Availability April - October

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Popular Itineraries

Lake Constance Cycle PathWebsite Code: CGSLCCPThe Lake Constance cycle route is one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe. You will get the chance to explore Austria, Germany and Swit-zerland as you cycle around one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, enjoying short cycle rides each day.

Looping around the sparkling shores is the Bodensee-Radweg, a 170 mile cycle path that is broad, flat and traffic free.

Grade

Comfort

Start/Finish

Distance

Constance/Constance

295 km

Duration 8 Days & 7 Nights

Availability April - October

Scottish Island HopscotchWebsite Code: CSSSIHRich peaty whiskies, rugged coasts, prolific wildlife and romantic island hideaways. Discover the Scotland of your dreams on an island hopping cycling holiday on the Islands of Ar-ran, Islay and Jura.

f you want to see a different side of one of the most gorgeous parts of Scotland, this trip is hard to beat.

Grade

Comfort

Start/Finish

Distance

Ardrossan / Ardrossan

82 - 219 km

Duration 8 Days & 7 Nights

Availability March - October

Cycling Tuscany: Chianti & SienaWebsite Code: CISSTUSExperience the very best of classic Tuscany on a self-guided cycle tour. Take to two wheels and cycle bella Italia, discovering picture-postcard Medieval and Renaissance hill-top villages, accompanied by sumptuous cuisine and the famed Chianti, Brunello and Nobile wines.

Grade

Comfort

Start/Finish

Distance

Poggibonsi/Chiusi

237 km

Duration 8 Days & 7 Nights

Availability March - Early November

Self Guided Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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How To Make a Booking

Online

Visit the tour page on our website. Select the trip you require and hit “book now” to choose dates. You’ll be able to select your options and extras at the next stage before finalising your reservation.

By Phone

We love to chat. Call us and we can answer any questions you might have before booking on the phone.+44 (0)141 530 8886 (UK)1-866-355-1037 (US Toll Free)

By Email

Email us at info@macsadventure.com with your trip requirements and we will get right back to you.

Booking Terms

All bookings are subject to our Booking Terms which are available on our website, just look under “about us” or visit http://www.macsbike.com/about-us/booking-conditions/. You’ll get prices for the dates you wish to travel on by visiting our website too.

How the Booking Process Works:

When you book, you are making a provisional reservation by paying a 20% deposit.We book all your accommodation and options, then send you a final confirmation as soon as everything is confirmed (max 5 working days).

If for any reason we are unable to accommodate you on your confirmed dates/tour or an alternative of your choice, your deposit is refunded in full.

The reason for this process is that most of our tours are tailor-made on a request basis. We work with small hotels on each trip, with bookings on a request basis. This gives you ultimate flexibility to start and finish on any date you like.

How To Book Yourcycling trip

Visit the Tours on Our Website

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CYCLING KIT LISTFootwear

ü Good, stiff soled shoes or if you are taking your

own pedals, then SPD shoes.

ü Good quality cycling socks x 3 pairs. (packing one

extra-warm pair is advisable.)

Clothing ü 2 x Thermal base layers.

ü 1 Pair fleece trousers

ü 1 or 2 paris of cycling shorts trousers.

ü Waterproof Jacket (Goretex or other breathable

fabric.)

ü Waterproof Over-trousers. (Goretex or other

breathable fabric.)

ü Long sleeved cycling shirt.

ü 3 x T-shirts/cycling T-shirts.

ü Thin fleece jacket/top.

ü Sun hat and sunglasses.

ü Helmet

ü Gloves (one pair thinner and one pair very warm.)

ü Buff or Neck Gaiter.

ü Travel Towel.

ü Casual clothes for the evening.

Equipment ü Daypack/Rucksack

ü Water Bottle and/or Camelback (4 Litres) + purifi

cation tablets/system.

ü Head torch + Batteries (including spare bulb &

batteries.)

ü Books/Guides/Maps.

ü Pocket Knife/Leatherman/Swiss Army Knife.

ü Camera.

ü Money Belt/Pouch.

ü Waterproof liner or cover for your rucksack.

ü Large plastic bin liners and Ziploc storage bags of

various sizes.

ü Energy bars and snacks - 2 per day.

Toiletries, Health & Medial Kit

ü First Aid Kit - It is always a good idea to carry a

personal first aid kit for your own needs.

Even through you will not always be miles from

civilisation, some parts of the walk are

quite remote, so it is worth taking along. It

should include wound dressings, antiseptic wipes,

antiseptic cream, crepe bandages, triangular

bandages, blister kit (plasters and Compede) etc.

You can buy excellent ready-made kits

from outdoor shops and pharmacies.

ü Sun Block & Lip Balm - 30+ SPF

ü Medication - Please take sufficient quantities of

any prescription medication you need

for the duration of your trip. Additionally you may

want to take a supply of medication that

you occasionally use for headaches and

aches and pains.

ü Toiletries - Pack toothbruch & paste, floss, hand

and face cleansers. Baby wipes are excellent for

a quick freshen up.

WHAT TO PACKThis kit list is a suggestion, and of course many items are down to personal preference. We would always recommend preparing for every weather eventuality, even a completely clear and calm forecast can change dramatically with just a couple of days notice, and once you have embarked on your trip it will be more difficult to procure extra kit.

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Macs Adventure Ltd, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow G4 9TH, United KingdomRegistered in Scotland No. 356084

Self Guided Walking Holidays & Cycling Holidays - Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-866-355-1037 (USA & CANADA)

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